Cast & Character List
Esther Yu as Ling Miaomiao
Meet Ling Miaomiao - The Relatable Hot Mess Heroine of "Love Game in Eastern Fantasy"
This character is basically the Chinese fantasy version of your college roommate who'd survive a zombie apocalypse through pure dumb luck and snack hoarding skills.
Role Status: Third female lead (but secretly the real MVP)
Character Vibe: Chaotic Good meets Clueless Newbie
Why We Stan:
Miaomiao's just your average 21st-century girl crushing on TikTok thirst traps and pulling all-nighters for exams... until BAM! She wakes up in some ancient cultivation novel as "Ling Yu" - the OG story's scheming villainess destined to die in Chapter 15. Talk about bad transmigration luck!
Survival Mode Activated:
• Zero filter, maximum sass: This girl says what we're all thinking ("Magic sword battles before breakfast? Hard pass!")
• Romance? What romance?: Dudes be dropping hints like cultivation manuals and she's like "Cool story bro, now where's the dumplings?"
• Cockroach-level tenacity: Whether dodging evil spirit beasts or awkward family matchmaking, our girl's survival instincts turn every near-death experience into accidental heroism
Modern Girl vs. Ancient Problems:
Watch her:
✓ Try to explain "Wi-Fi" to confused immortal masters
✓ Accidentally invent pizza in a xianxia kitchen
✓ Turn villain monologues into therapy sessions
Why You'll Love Her:
Miaomiao's that hilarious friend who'd use Gucci makeup to draw protective talismans. She's rewriting her "doomed villainess" fate through modern memelord energy and sheer refusal to follow scripted drama tropes. Will she survive the love triangle between the broody male lead and the secretly soft dark lord? Honestly, she's too busy trying to invent indoor plumbing to notice either of them flirting!
Ding Yu Xi as Mu Sheng
Meet Mu Sheng - The Morally Gray Heartthrob Stealing Scenes in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy
Who He Is
Played by rising star Ding Yu Xi, Mu Sheng is the dangerously charismatic demon hunter (zhuoyao shi) you'll love to hate (and low-key want to protect) in this lush Eastern fantasy drama. Adopted into the prestigious Mu clan as a child, he's technically the younger "brother" of heroine Mu Yao – but trust us, this relationship is anything but sibling goals.
Personality Vibes
Think "yandere archetype meets Sherlock-level scheming" with extra ✨spice✨:
- Obsessive cinnamon roll: Will burn down the world to "protect" those he loves (read: Mu Yao), whether they want it or not.
- Master manipulator: Smiles like an angel while outplaying enemies with 4D chess moves.
- Jealousy incarnate: Side-eyes anyone within 10 feet of Mu Yao harder than a Taylor Swift breakup track.
- Morally ambiguous king: His "good deeds" often come with shady strings attached.
TL;DR
Mu Sheng is your new problematic fave – a beautifully broken antihero who'll make you question why you're rooting for the actual male lead. You’ve been warned!
Zhu Xu Dan as Mu Yao
Who is MU Yao?
As the heiress of the legendary Demon-Slaying Mu Dynasty, Mu Yao (Zhu Xudan) embodies the icy elegance of a celestial warrior. With silver-tipped blades and frost in her gaze, she’s both revered as a goddess and feared as a merciless hunter of supernatural evils. But beneath her aloof exterior lies a soul torn between duty and compassion.
Her Battles & Bonds
- A Sister’s Vow: Mu Yao’s fiercest loyalty is to her brother, Mu Sheng, whom she shields from their family’s brutal legacy. Their bond teeters between tenderness and the suffocating weight of inherited trauma.
- Frenemies to Soulmates: Her partnership with revolutionary idealist Liu Fuyi starts as a tactical alliance ("Demons first, debates later") but ignites into a slow-burn romance that challenges her black-and-white worldview.
- System? What System?: In a meta twist, Mu Yao gradually awakens to the "rules" of her story—a predestined "heroine’s path" she’s determined to rewrite. Think WandaVision meets Mulan, but with more swordplay.
Why She’s Not Your Typical Heroine
Forget damsel-in-distress tropes. Mu Yao’s arc is a masterclass in subverting expectations:
- Flawed & Fierce: She’s unapologetically ruthless toward demons… until a tragic half-human child forces her to question everything.
- Growth Over Perfection: Watch her evolve from a duty-bound weapon to a leader who dismantles systems—both supernatural and societal.
- The Ultimate Choice: Does she destroy the demon realm to save humanity? Or find a third way? Her finale will leave you sobbing (no spoilers!).
Zhu Xudan’s Take:
"Mu Yao isn’t just ‘strong’—she’s allowed to be vulnerable, angry, even wrong. Her power comes from choosing empathy without losing her edge."
TL;DR: A frost-coated katana of a character who melts hearts (and patriarchy) in this genre-blending fantasy. Stream Love Game in Eastern Fantasy to see why
Pro tip for viewers: Pay attention to her hairpins—they’re not just accessories, but subtle clues to her shifting loyalties. ✨
Yang Shize as Liu Fuyi
Played by rising star Yang Shize, Liu Fuyi starts off as your classic righteous hero from an Eastern fantasy novel – think golden retriever energy with sword skills. But here's the kicker: he's literally coded by a ruthless system to serve as a "romance prop" for icy protagonist Mu Yao (don't worry, she's way more than a Mary Sue).
This cinnamon roll NPC:
- Gets hardwired to simp for Mu Yao at first sight (those system admins really said "FALL IN LOVE OR DIE TRYING")
- Battles glitchy feelings when his programmed loyalty clashes with actual free will (that "Error 404: Heart Not Found" look? Chef's kiss)
- Lowkey becomes the show's emotional Swiss Army knife – serving looks, swordfights, and existential crisis realness
But wait! When the story's meta-layers peel back (yes, this fantasy has layers), Fuyi's "too-good-for-this-world" schtick evolves into something revolutionary. That's right folks – our coded knight goes full Neo from The Matrix, teaming up with Mu Yao to hack the system itself. Their weapon? Not magic blades or OP spells, but the most dangerous glitch of all: genuine human connection.
Chen Duling as Mirror Spirit
Mirror Spirit is a haunting anti-heroine born from betrayal. Once a loyal companion to her human mistress, she turned against the mortal world after witnessing her beloved owner’s heartbreak at the hands of a faithless man. Now trapped between realms, her crystalline form reflects both the beauty and darkness of human souls—especially the fragility of love she deems a "poisonous lie."
Coldly brilliant and sharp-edged as broken glass, Jing Yao wages a silent war against men, manipulating illusions to expose their hidden cruelty. Yet beneath her vengeful facade lies a tragedy: she’s forever cursed to mirror others’ truths while her own pain remains unseen.
Her story takes a pivotal turn when Mu Sheng (a brooding warrior) shatters her physical form, forcing her to confront her nihilistic worldview. It’s Liu Fuyi, a healer with scars of his own, who offers unexpected mercy. Through their bittersweet dynamic—part philosophical duel, part reluctant kinship—Jing Yao begins to question her eternal grudge.
Jing Yao’s tale lasts only 5 episodes… but like a prism catching sunlight, her legacy fractures the entire narrative in unforgettable ways.
Zhong Xintong as Mu Rong'Er
Meet Mu Rong'Er - the heart-wrenching tale behind every supernatural drama's "complicated mom" trope, reimagined through Eastern fantasy lens. Played by veteran Hong Kong actress Zhong Xintong (Twins era icon alert!), this fox spirit-turned-human will make you rethink every "monster vs mankind" storyline you've ever seen.
Her Story
As a thousand-year-old hulijing (shape-shifting fox spirit) who dared to love mortal scholar Zhao Qinghuan, Mu Rong'Er's forbidden romance reads like a Tang Dynasty Romeo & Juliet... if Juliet had celestial powers and a killer survival instinct. When societal prejudices shattered their cross-species marriage, this fierce mama did what every strong female lead should - raised her half-human son Mu Sheng solo while dodging supernatural bounty hunters.
Zhong's portrayal elevates Mu Rong'Er beyond typical "tragic mother" clichés, blending ethereal grace with raw maternal ferocity. Keep tissues handy when her haunting final scenes reveal why this character's legacy drives the entire season's game-changing twists.
Xu Haiqiao as Zhao Qinghuan
Zhao Qinghuan (portrayed by rising star Xu Haiqiao) emerges as one of the most haunting figures in the wuxia fantasy epic Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. A golden-haired scion of the aristocratic Zhao dynasty, this scholar-warrior once embodied the pinnacle of privilege - until a forbidden romance shattered his gilded world.
A Love Story Turned Greek Tragedy
Young Qinghuan's whirlwind affair with commoner mystic Mu Rong'Er (a pairing fans are dubbing "Eastern Fantasy's Romeo & Juliet") defied his clan's strict marriage protocols. When the Zhao elders orchestrated their brutal separation - forcing him into a political marriage - his quiet acquiescence became the first domino in a generational descent into darkness.
The Flawed Architect of Destiny
Decades later, viewers witness Qinghuan's quiet unraveling:
• A husband emotionally absent from his arranged marriage
• A father unknowingly abandoning his secret lovechild Mu Sheng (the drama's protagonist)
• A broken man clinging to Mu Rong'Er's keepsakes like sacred relics
Xu's layered performance transforms what could've been a standard "toxic patriarch" into a profoundly human cautionary tale. Watch for the subtle tremor in his hands during confrontation scenes - a masterclass in repressed emotion.
Redemption Arc Alert!
The drama's most gut-wrenching moment comes when an aged, ailing Qinghuan finally recognizes Mu Sheng. Their rain-soaked reunion (Episode 23's viral "Umbrella Confession") delivers catharsis with Qinghuan's whispered apology: "My cowardice built your prison... let my dying breath be your key."
Why Audiences Will Relate
Beyond the flying swords and silk robes, Zhao's journey mirrors our own struggles with:
✓ Family legacy vs personal desire
✓ Intergenerational trauma
✓ The price of playing by society's rules
Xu Haiqiao brings Shakespearean gravitas to this complex role, making Qinghuan both infuriating and heartbreaking. Don't be surprised if you find yourself screaming at your screen one moment, then reaching for tissues the next.
Bao Huaijiang as Mu Huaijiang
The Wolf in Priest's Robes
Meet Mu Huaijiang — the scheming patriarch you'll love to hate in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. Portrayed with chilling precision by veteran actor Bao Jianfeng, this power-hungry nobleman hides his ruthless ambition behind a polished facade of Confucian virtue. Think Littlefinger from Game of Thrones, but with a ✨traditional Chinese fantasy twist✨.
Dirty Deeds Done Darkly
Mu Huaijiang isn't just your average backstabber. This guy goes full Shakespearean villain:
- Secretly allies with manipulative royal concubine Consort Zhao to climb the political ladder
- Orchestrates the bloody downfall of his own clan (family drama, anyone?)
- Imprisons his niece Mu Rong'Er in a gilded cage (girlboss suppression alert!)
Pro tip: If he starts quoting poetry about "honor," check your drink for poison.
Karma's a Bitter Tea
His downfall comes when adoptive son Mu Sheng (the fan-favorite cinnamon roll) exposes his crimes. In a poetic twist, Mu Huaijiang becomes the sacrificial lamb forced to atone for generations of political sins. Talk about being hoisted by your own greedy petard!
Why You'll Hate/Love Him
Bao Jianfeng masterfully balances Mu Huaijiang's silk-robed menace with flickers of human frailty. Watch for:
- Micro-expressions that scream "I regret nothing!" during his moral monologues
- Swordfight showdowns where his flowing sleeves become metaphorical chains
- That haunting final scene where the system he worshipped literally eats him alive
Cultural Easter Egg
Mu Huaijiang's arc serves as a scathing critique of feudal hypocrisy. His elaborate headdress? Symbolizes the crushing weight of societal expectations. The jade pendant he constantly fidgets with? Represents his crumbling moral compass. Chef's kiss to the costume department!
Wen Zhengrong as Imperial Consort Zhao
Imperial Consort Zhao isn't your typical palace elder sipping tea and reminiscing. This iron-willed strategist treats the royal court like her personal chessboard, manipulating heirs and ministers to prop up her fading aristocratic clan. Her jeweled headdresses hide a mind sharper than any dagger—and she's not afraid to poison a rival's wine or blackmail a general if it keeps her family in power.
Hai Lu as Shi Niangzi
Shi Niangzi is a thought-reading demon (yes, she can literally hear your deepest secrets!) who’s been secretly crushing on a mortal scholar named Li Zhun for over a century. Imagine pining for someone for 100+ years while hiding your true identity — talk about a slow burn! But here’s the twist: When Li Zhun’s daughter faces a deadly crisis, Shi Niangzi strikes a Faustian bargain with Huan Yao, a manipulative dark entity, to save the girl… even if it means betraying her own kind.
Yu Menglong as Li Zhun
Li Zhun starts off as your classic underdog: a humble scholar with ink-stained robes and a heart full of poetry. But his life takes a wild turn when he crosses paths with Shi Niangzi, a mysterious fox spirit (yes, that kind of Eastern fantasy drama!). Their forbidden, cross-species romance is equal parts swoony and tragic—think midnight rendezvous, whispered promises, and a LOT of tear-soaked scrolls.
After losing his human wife early on, Li Zhun spirals into a "why even try?" depression (relatable, tbh). But when Shi Niangzi sacrifices herself to save his daughter—cue the ugly crying—he finally gets a cosmic wake-up call. The big lesson? "True love isn’t bound by life, death, or even species." Deep, right?
Fei Qiming as Zhao Ruoshi
Meet Zhao Ruoshi — the adorkable royal prince who accidentally becomes East Empire's most chaotic demon-hunting sidekick. As the half-brother of cunning crown prince Mu Sheng, this cinnamon roll was never supposed to touch palace politics... until he tripped face-first into a supernatural conspiracy.
Fresh-faced actor Fei Qiming brings hilarious physical comedy to the role, particularly in Zhao's slapstick "enemies-to-reluctant-partners" dynamic with sharp-tongued exorcist Ling Miaomiao. Whether he's getting tangled in enchanted spiderwebs or accidentally proposing marriage to a shapeshifting teapot, every scene with this human golden retriever becomes instant meme material.
While the main plot simmers with dark power struggles, Zhao's wide-eyed sincerity and accidental heroics act as the show's emotional pressure valve. His childlike wonder at magic ("Wait, you mean I'm the demon bait?!") and unfailing belief in people's goodness keep even the grittiest episodes feeling whimsically hopeful.
Wang Xiaochen as Liu Niang
Liu Niang serves as the chief steward of the powerful Mu household, and she’s the definition of "don’t judge a book by its cover." Outwardly, she’s all business: shrewd, calculating, and laser-focused on keeping the Mu estate running smoothly (and profitably). She’ll haggle over teacup prices one minute and coolly negotiate with merchants the next—classic "survival-first" energy. But beneath that no-nonsense exterior lies a fiercely loyal soul who’d risk everything for those she cares about.
Che Baoluo as Old Zhu Qingqing
Meet Old Zhu Qingqing — the millennia-old bamboo spirit who's mastered the art of blending into modern life by running a quirky ice cream cart. This fan-favorite character hides sharp wit behind his sticky-sweet facade as the show's ultimate "meta knower," casually aware of the story's hidden "book-transcending truth" that even protagonists haven't cracked.
Played with scene-stealing charm by veteran actor Che Baoluo, Lao Zhu materializes at pivotal moments like a mystical plot GPS. His triple-scoop wisdom cones come with side servings of cryptic clues, steering heroes through magical crises with quick wit and jokes that cut tension sharper than his bamboo-shard daggers.
Lai Yi as Tao Ying
Portrayed by rising star Lai Yi, Tao Ying serves as the unwavering right-hand man to the formidable Mu Yao (another key player in this Eastern fantasy saga). Think of him as the "devoted knight" archetype—the kind of guy who'd walk through fire for his team without batting an eye. His calm demeanor and strategic mind make him the glue holding the protagonist squad together as they navigate deadly trials and political schemes.
Lu Yu Hao as Cui Cui
Cui Cui starts off as your classic "naive servant girl" trope—but wait! This cinnamon roll has layers. With her wide-eyed sincerity and a giggle that could melt even the frostiest immortal lord, she's the emotional core of Mu Manor. Think Disney princess energy meets Gen-Z relatability, but set in a mystical Eastern fantasy world full of political schemes and magical tea ceremonies.
